Listen! I think I hear the Baroness." She leaned a little forward, and the madness fired his blood.

Half stupefied, she yielded to his embrace, her lips rested upon his, her frightened eyes were half closed.

His arms held her like a vise, he could feel her heart throbbing madly against his.

How long they remained like it he never knew--who can measure the hours spent in Paradise! She flung him from her at last, taking him by surprise with a sudden burst of energy, and before he could stop her she had left the room.

In her place, the Baroness was standing upon the threshold, dressed in a wonderful blue wrapper, and with a cigarette between her teeth.